Six Calls, One Message
Latest News : ISLAMABAD, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said he received six phone calls from Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. And his message in each one, he said, was the same, do not let Afghan soil be used against Pakistan. Speaking in the Senate, Dar shared that the situation had become difficult for him as well, but he made Pakistan’s stance clear.“We only want one thing, that no one use Afghan territory against us,” he said. The statement came amid rising tension along the border and continuing concerns that militants operating from Afghanistan are directing attacks on Pakistan, according to Islamabad. The latest exchange highlights the strained relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, as both sides face growing pressure to address cross-border militancy.
Old Promises, New Worries
Dar recalled the early days after the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Pakistani envoys had gone to Kabul, he said, “for a cup of tea.” But that informal outreach, meant to build goodwill, didn’t last. He said small mistakes turned costly, and both sides paid the price. Formal dialogue went quiet for nearly four years. Eventually, Dar said, he travelled to Afghanistan himself, held meetings, and signed agreements. His single demand was straightforward: stop attacks that originate from Afghan soil. Since then, however, the number of violent incidents inside Afghanistan has grown. “Islamabad is committed to fighting till the last breath,” Dar said, adding that the upcoming Pakistan Afghanistan talks on November 6 could provide a way forward.
Domestic Security in Focus
Turning to Pakistan’s own counterterrorism efforts, the deputy prime minister said military operations conducted up to 2018 had significantly reduced the number of militant attacks. But he acknowledged that in recent months, violence has surged again, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. He also dismissed reports claiming that the government had paid stipends of Rs10,000 or Rs25,000 to religious scholars in Punjab, saying he had no knowledge of such payments and would find it regrettable if they were true.
Ceasefire Talks and Border Tensions
The latest developments follow a shaky ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan. According to Turkish officials, both sides agreed to extend the truce after Pakistan Afghanistan talks in Istanbul, discussions that came after deadly cross-border clashes, including airstrikes and retaliatory fire that closed key trade routes. Turkey and Qatar, who helped mediate the talks, said another round would be held in Istanbul on November 6 to formalize how the ceasefire will be implemented. Both countries expressed readiness to continue supporting peace efforts between the two neighbours. A statement from Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that the Istanbul meeting had ended with an agreement to continue dialogue in the future.
Cross-Border Conflict and Rising Militancy
Pakistan’s frustrations are not new. Since 2021, officials in Islamabad have repeatedly warned the Taliban regime to take action against militant groups responsible for deadly attacks inside Pakistan. But despite the promises, Pakistan says the response from Kabul has been slow and, at times, indifferent. In mid-October, tensions flared when Taliban fighters opened fire along the border. Pakistan’s armed forces hit back swiftly with airstrikes, reportedly killing more than 200 militants and Taliban fighters. Twenty-three Pakistani soldiers lost their lives in the clashes. The violence briefly stopped when the Taliban government requested a ceasefire, which Pakistan accepted on October 17. That led to meetings in Doha, followed by the Pakistan Afghanistan talks in Istanbul that concluded without a concrete outcome.
A Fragile Peace
For now, the relationship between Islamabad and Kabul remains fragile. As Pakistan Afghanistan talks continue, Pakistan wants firm guarantees that no group will be allowed to use Afghan territory for cross-border attacks. The Taliban, meanwhile, maintains that it is doing what it can and that Pakistan’s military operations have also fueled tensions. As the two sides prepare for yet another round of discussions, the message from Islamabad is simple, peace depends on actions, not words.
